Australian Test Selection Thread 2017 - 2018

[Red]

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South Australia's Wayne Phillips was a rakishly built left handed batsman and wicketkeeper who represented both state and country over the course of a first class career that spanned the thirteen year period between the 1977-78 and 1990-91 seasons. Despite an unusual grip on the blade (one hand was placed close to the top of the handle and the other near to the bottom), Phillips was a natural strokemaker and one who was particularly confident when executing horizontal bat shots. It was this confidence - as well as a willingness to sacrifice himself for the good of his team - which was integral in his emergence as a successful opener for the Croweaters in the early 1980s and in his elevation to Test level at the start of the 1983-84 international season. Phillips enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top flight: his commanding 159 against Pakistan in Perth made him only the fourteenth Australian in Test history to compile a century on debut. But it was not long before the same sense of selflessness that had inspired his transformation from a middle order player into an opening batsman acted as a millstone around his neck. In mid-career, he was asked to become a wicketkeeper on the basis of his experience as a gloveman at underage and club level and as a response to the development of a gaping hole in the Australian team following Rod Marsh's departure. While the move was not without some short-term benefits - his sound wicketkeeping skills and a courageous second Test century on tour in the Caribbean in 1984 encouraged hopes of a long and fruitful stint in the role - it effectively spelled the beginning of the end for his international ambitions. His productivity with the bat waned so steadily thereafter that his Test and ODI careers were both over within a mere three years. He subsequently remained a key player in the South Australian team for a number of seasons but his career never again touched the same heights as it had done previously.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

As a batsman alone Cartwright is orders of magnitude above Stoinis, Stoinis has more to his bowling though. Mitch Marsh shouldn't be anywhere near a recall as things stand right now, way too soon.

 

[Second Spitter]

How does Bancroft rate on the Sledgometer?

Seems to be an important attribute for wicket-keepers these days.

 

[TheJediBrah]

If Bancroft doesn't play then merit-based selection will be proven to be a myth

 

[Second Spitter]

It's pretty unlikely that Nevill will get another dig.

 

[Burgey]

I think it's more where Bancroft bats than whether he plays tbh. Does he replace Renshaw, bat six or bat seven and take the gloves?

I mean, it's not a bad problem to have.

 

[stephen]

I think it's more where Bancroft bats than whether he plays tbh. Does he replace Renshaw, bat six or bat seven and take the gloves?

I mean, it's not a bad problem to have.

Agreed.

 

[Second Spitter]

I'd say Maddog's done enough for a recall.

 

[Midwinter]

NJ Maddinson 3 6 0 75 HS 24 Ave12.50

just saying

meanwhile the new Ed Cowan

DP Hughes 3 6 3 211 HS 98* Ave 70.33

 

[Second Spitter]

yeah, that was sarcasm

More seriously.......a gritty 50 and/or batting out the first session will get Show over the line for T1, i feel.

 

[S.Kennedy]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...-ashes-loss-gets-australias-selectors-spooked

 

[stephen]

Warner
Renshaw
Khawaja
Smith*
Handscomb
Maxwell
Nevill+
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood

Would have been the correct selection going into this Ashes. It's totally madness to replace our settled opening combination, introduce a 34 year old injury-prone batsman who is a liability in the field instead of an all rounder who is an exceptional fielder and has done just as much so far in the shield this season. It's even more insane to pick a bloke who is the third choice keeper for a state side to keep for the national side.

It's even more insane to do this for an Ashes series.

 

[marc71178]

Is an off spinning 5th bowler really that good an option though, bearing in mind how the Australian wickets tend to go for spinners? As such surely the bowling of Maxwell is a non-factor, especially considering it isn't actually that good in any event?

 

[NUFAN]

Agreed. For ages people have been asking the question why we dont just pick the 6 best batsman and 4 best bowlers and I think that is what the selectors have tried to do. Also, the top 6 now has 3 RH bats and 3 LH bats spread around the top 6.

If the selectors felt that Renshaw really was completely out of touch and no chance of making any runs I think it isnt that hard to argue that the 6 bats weve picked all have the ability to make a big score and that is what we need. I certainly think Marsh has more ability making 100s than Maxwell or others - its just that he is also more prone to having 4 single digit scores in a row compared to others too.

Smith doesnt rate Maxwells bowling anyway, he will have to be prepared to bowl a couple of overs himself.

Will Bancroft field at first slip?

 

[Second Spitter]

Bancroft will be given the Silly point/Bat Pad honours, as per Australian Cricket hazing custom.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Bancroft will be given the Silly point/Bat Pad honours, as per Australian Cricket hazing custom.

Also he's a bat-pad specialist

 

[Gnske]

Should honestly put Usman in there despite how much he sucked 6 years ago in that position. Until he learns the word cardio.

 

[SeamUp]

I look at Tim Paine & think yeah if he had been keeping and scoring big runs. Why not.

But lets face it he is a better keeper than Wade and his batting game seems more adaptable than Nevill hence his ability to play limited overs cricket. Character wise clearly what Smith is looking for too in marshalling the troops. Over the years when I saw him he did look like owned the keeping gig.

But the 7 year thing & 1 FC ton and not keeping does make this selection look odd and random. But for some reason I can't get myself to write it off.

No denying they were clearly desperate and it looks a desperate selection.

A few years of Paine and then a Sam Whiteman will be back ?

 

[Prince EWS]

Is an off spinning 5th bowler really that good an option though, bearing in mind how the Australian wickets tend to go for spinners? As such surely the bowling of Maxwell is a non-factor, especially considering it isn't actually that good in any event?

Yeah I don't think the bowling of Cartwright or Maxwell really should have been a factor at all. Cartwright's bowling sucks in general and having Maxwell as a second off spinner in Brisbane would probably be even more pointless, particularly given that Smith seems to rate his bowling even less than I do. If they wanted a batting allrounder whose bowling was going to be vaguely relevant then their options were effectively Henriques and Stoinis, and so I'm glad they didn't go that way.

I actually would've picked both Cartwright and Maxwell ahead of Marsh on batting alone (or perhaps better yet, not dropped Renshaw and found a way to make the batting order work with three openers), but I definitely don't feel strongly about it in any way. Marsh wouldn't have been my pick but it's really not the awful call some are making out.

 

[Red]

It's an interesting time.

Funny to look back at the leading FC scorers in Shield last year:

Cowan (959 @73)

Cartright (861 @ 73)

Bailey (839 @ 59)

Moises (775 @ 64)

Plus guys like Harris, Lehmann and Patterson who had reasonable years also.

I'm not sure I agree with the selections based on early season form, I'd prefer form over one or two previous seasons of FC tbh.

Staggeringly, Nevill made 625 runs @ 56 and Hartley made 535 @ 76.



I can agree with them picking Bancroft on early season form to some extent, particularly making runs opening against NSW attack. But Marsh and Paine are so left field in terms of so many things.

That said, I've got a gut it's gonna work, against the logic. Certainly has made for an interesting first test.